Usual disclaimers. Konami's work and ideas belong to Konami, who presumably have all rights reserved. The story is written by me.
Luca's Redemption – Chapter Thirteen
Finale
The End of the End
Location: Bowels of the Beast
Robert and Ayuko ran through the fields of emptiness, searching for an escape which did not exist.
Luca began to awaken, while Maroux and the other man were speaking.
"…Ah, so is that what you want, sir Maroux Blight?"
"Yes. It is my deepest wish, and I must ask of you to do this for me before you put me to sleep again."
"…I'm not sure where you think you can ask me for something, because you seem to be wise enough to know that I am capable of doing what you ask, and yet ignorant enough to think that you are in any sort of bargaining position."
"I am well aware of where I stand before you, great one. But you must know that a revived spirit such as I would be rather tiresome to get rid of without my consent. And by the looks of it, you have to take care of those two runaways right about now."
The man stood back and thought.
"Let me remind you, great one, that I can inform those two of your secret," Maroux laughed, "I suppose, thus, that you have underestimated—"
At that precise moment, Luca had already awoken. But it seemed that the Beast Rune still had control over him, and so an explosion of the Beast's power threw the two men back. Ayuko and Robert, at a distance, both saw and felt this power, and after some contemplation, hesitantly decided to return.
"By the gods, Luca! Calm yourself! You are becoming tiresome and nearly more trouble than you are worth!"
The man stood on his feet, and prepared to use his forbidden magic. Maroux also stood and said: "Be aware, Luca! You are a member of the Blight clan! And you will carry on the family's legacy!"
A liquid-like blackness formed in the man's hands, and they surged at Luca, covering him in a second skin. But this would not be enough to hold the Beast-possessed Luca. The fiery light of the Beast Rune seethed through the magic barrier, and shattered it.
"You……. Die….. d….ie…..die! DIE!"
Four wings of light materialized on Luca's back, and took him to air. He flew at the man, but was stopped by him. His arm rose, and he opened his hand, pointing his palm at Luca, "Stop."
"UGH! W-What……is………this……power……" Even as cerulean flames permeated the air around Luca, as if bleeding profusely from an inferno deep inside of him, his power was inferior to the man's.
"No control, Luca! You need guidance to control your power!"
The man enveloped Luca in the black substance again: "You're lacking in control Luca… I can help you. Please, just let me in! We're the same, you and me… let me help you!" The man tightened his grip on Luca with the forbidden magic, trying to blot out Luca's consciousness in order to reform him.
"Luca… I've realized now that you can't be saved as long as long as your soul is what it is. I must change who you are – I must become you!" The obsession flickered in his eyes, but it began to consume the man, just as the Beast was consuming Luca.
"LUCA!" Ayuko screamed as she tackled Maroux, sending him hurling into the other man. The other man lost his grip on Luca, and he was released from the liquid-prison. Robert came to his side, but was thrown back by the Beast Rune's power.
"YOU….DIE!" Luca spoke, and sent a massive blue fireball towards the other man, but he deflected it. Maroux received the attack, and was burned to oblivion.
"Idiot! You killed your own ancestor's ghost! Not that I care… I shall deal with you!"
The other man sent a ray of dark liquid-like magic towards Luca, who retaliated with a blast of Beast-flame. The two magics collided in violent commotion, as the winds of the place grew evermore vicious, swirling within itself. The sky began to churn, and tornadoes formed while lightning cackled angrily. The earth began to rumble and break, as the two powers battled amongst each other.
"LUCA! I AM HELPING YOU SAVE YOURSELF! WHY DO YOU RESIST ME!"
With the last surge of strength, Luca sent all of his power firing towards the other man. Robert saw the opportunity and tackled the other man down to the ground, breaking his spell-line: "NO! YOU FOOL! THE FORBIDDEN MAGIC WILL—"
"DOCTOR, NO!" Ayuko shrieked as she ran in front of the path of the Beast Rune's path of destruction, "Get away! Hurry!" She raised her right hand.
A blinding, deafening light exploded, and filled the infinite emptiness.
---
Luca found himself washed on a shore, with an unclear recollection of what happened in the Bowels of the Beast. He did know that it was not a dream, as the mark on his right hand was still there: The Beast Rune, eating away at him. Exhausted from all the power he expended, he staggered to his feet, and walked inland. The place revealed itself to be a small island, even smaller than the one before. Around him was no sign of life, but he soon came across the other side of the island, where at that shore, he could see two figures: a man and a woman.
He ran towards them: "… you… you're alive? Dr. Robert and Ayuko? What happened?"
"Goodness, you startled me! I'm afraid you have the wrong people, son. My name is Barbarossa," said the man, "and this is my wife Windy."
"Pleased to meet you." The other woman said.
"! … how… but you – you look just like that doctor… and you… Ayuko… how could…?" Luca was confused, tired and again dazed. It seems the Beast Rune would not let Luca know peace.
"This is certainly quite interesting. Tell me: would you happen to have a True Rune on your hand there?" The man named Barbarossa said.
"… Beast Rune…"
"AH! You see, dear? I was right… I guess the stars really are moving now. The final battle will be soon…"
"Yes, yes you were, love. I suppose we should hurry and set sail then."
"…what… is going… on?"
"Well my boy, the True Runes are gathering soon. We shall all meet and wage the war of Dharma and Chaos. The time of Judgment is near… but do not be alarmed! It is not in the nearest future… it will take some time. But it is coming: and you're arrival here proves this theory I have. These True Runes make us immortal after all, so we have all the time in the world to prepare for it. Come now, we're setting sail for the mainland. We have things to do!"
Luca could barely come to terms with what had happened, and now this wave of revelation proved all the more overwhelming. Somehow, he nodded and went along with the other two True Rune Bearers, and they set sail.
---
On a cliff nearby, the other man stood, watching them on the shore. The secret which Maroux had figured out was that this man was not a man at all. Buried deeply in cloaks, the only thing for certain was that this 'man' was a human. And so, this human cast aside the cloaks, and revealed the woman beneath them. She wore a beautiful blue dress, tantamount to those of grand seers and queens. Stunning jewelry hung on her neck, wrists and hands; even her feet were covered in jewels. Woven from the most rare and expensive of fabrics, her silky dress wavered in the sea breeze, as did her long, black hair.
"Don't worry Maroux. You may rest peacefully back in the nether realm. I will grant you your wish, so do not be worried. As for the fate of Luca, and those two… The Destiny ordained by the stars is inevitable; the Will of the Heavens is undeniable. Nothing can stop this now."
The woman vanished.
---
Many nights passed at sea, and Luca told his story to the curious couple. How they truly loved each other; the two were perfect for each other and they had grown into each other's soul mate, Luca thought. But he was disinterested by such matters. It was only a momentary inkling; a wish that fluttered in the remains of his human heart for his parents when he was young, before the time of the tragedy that broke him.
Weeks slid by as time became increasingly unnoticed as the three Bearers enjoyed the sea life. Luca tending to his mental wounds, keeping to himself and thinking about all that had happened. Luca did finish his story one night, and Windy asked: "Forgive my question, Luca, but I must ask you: do you not feel remorse for what you have done?"
"I……" He could hardly answer, but there was a look on his face which gave Windy the answer she sought.
She asked another question: "Then, why didn't you let that man help you?" Both Windy and Barbarossa knew the 'right' answer to this, as wise as the two were. They were after all quite aged and experienced in life. Age and wisdom do not always cross paths, but this couple was the perfect proof that sometimes, age and wisdom do.
"… Sometimes… a person isn't worth saving… and other times, they can't be saved… but nobody can make someone reach salvation."
A look of assurance lit behind Luca's eyes. Barbarossa and Windy saw this, and were already relieved that Luca had come to that realization.
"Nobody can save me… because I have to save myself – I have to find my own redemption."
Atonement was far, far away in the Island Nations, waiting for him. But even then, Luca was already a changed man. He knew that the Beast inside him was in fact his own inner demon, and that the Beast Rune can be tamed just as his inner demon can. His journey will be difficult and undoubtedly trying, but it is a quest that is not only possible, but will be surpassed with 26 other individuals.
Redemption is beyond no one who seeks it.
And for the first time since his childhood, Luca looked into the sea and sky with a sense of contentment that allowed him to smile the faintest of smiles.
"I will find my redemption."
The End